The ACT had the highest proportion of innovative businesses who sourced ideas or information from consultants (49%) of all states and territories in the three years to 2003, according to data released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

However, ideas from within individual businesses was the highest reported source of ideas or information in the ACT (80%).

Clients or customers were the second highest source of ideas or information (66%).

More than one in five (29%) businesses in the ACT were recorded as innovative in the three years to 2003 (i.e. introduced a new or significantly improved good or service and/or process).

Innovation in goods and services was introduced mainly to increase revenue, with 71% of innovative ACT businesses citing this as a reason. Nationally, this figure was 61%.

Innovation in new processes was introduced mainly to improve productivity, with almost three-quarters (73%) of innovative businesses in the ACT recorded this as a reason. Nationally, the proportion was 62%.

Further information is available in Innovation in Australian Business (cat. no. 8158.0)

Media note: Innovation is defined as the process of introducing new or significantly improved goods or services and/or processes.

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